Chase course a cause for concern at Cork
Manager, Michael O’Neill, reported last evening that the hurdles track was almost raceable, but the chase course was thawing more slowly and a cause for concern.
There are two chases on the card, both graded events, and they have been moved to the back of the programme. Should the chase track prove to be unraceable then Cork will house six contests, the maiden hurdle having been divided.
Hopefully, the green light will be given to the chases, because they are clearly the main attraction. Last year’s winner, Golden Silver, can do the business again in the Grade 2 O’Connell Group Hilly Way Chase. He’s an admirably consistent sort, who showed his class in Grade 1 company at the Punchestown Festival when beating Forpadydeplasterer and Sizing Europe.
The eight-year-old made a fine seasonal debut at Navan, coming home strongly to finish a length and a quarter second to Big Zeb.
Willie Mullins trains Golden Silver and can also provide the answer to the Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Lombardstown Mares’ Novice Chase with Blazing Tempo. Formerly in the care of Willie Austin, she made a winning start for Mullins at Clonmel. That was a brave call by her new trainer to start the six-year-old off over fences in another Grade 3.
The selection didn’t let him down, beating Cool Quest (levels) by a length and three parts. Blazing Tempo gets the vote to confirm placings on revised terms, on the basis she has more scope for improvement!
John Kiely’s Araucaria can land the Grade 3 O’Connell Group Cork Stayers’ Novice Hurdle. She was most disappointing at Down Royal last time and has to leave that effort solidly behind. She was beaten 8 lengths and 12 lengths into third by Macville and Oilily, but two miles was well short of her optimum trip and this three miles may be far more suitable.
